From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Chapter 62

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“Something tells me I don’t believe you.” He grins mockingly, managing to get on my nerves. “I know how much you hate him, but trust me, in to the pleasures of the flesh isn’t so bad.”

giving

It’s not like I’m seriously considering that option. I refuse to, now that I’ve realized I’m the only idiot who overthought the whole thing. Seeing Narkissa leaving his room with that smug air didn’t make me jealous–no. It shattered my pride and made it burn, wounded. I almost allowed myself to feel a bit powerful when I heard him talk about me like I was a drug he was addicted to, something he couldn’t stay away from. His recent actions have quickly crushed that illusion of power.

Still, curiosity gets the better of me and I end up asking:

“What’s it like?” Walter frowns. “What’s it like to give in to that pleasure?”

Walter takes a moment to snap out of his confusion, and I can almost see the gears in his head turning until he realizes why I’m asking.

“I forgot that you…” That I don’t have experience. “Well, it’s something wonderful, Elara. You don’t have to be afraid. And that kind of… pastime becomes even more pleasurable with them. They may be cruel creatures, but I assure you that in the bedroom, they become very, very generous.” He makes another ridiculous gesture with his eyebrows. “I promise they won’t hurt you, if you ever…”

“It won’t happen.”

“You weren’t going to kiss one of them either, and look at you now.”

I feel attacked, but I can’t argue with Walter. He’s not wrong, and that’s what pisses me off the most. We’re so wrapped up in the conversation that neither of us notices the new arrival behind us. It doesn’t happen like with Cassian, whose presence I seem to sense from miles away–it’s like the air itself becomes electrified.

“Am I interrupting?”

Walter places a hand over his heart in the most dramatic gesture, and I turn to face the voice’s owner. Ciro watches us both with curious eyes, never losing the kind smile on his lips. He’s wearing a green vest over a black shirt that suggests his limbs are slender but strong.

“I think I’ll go see if Aeron needs anything…”

With that, Walter slips away, leaving me alone with the vampire. If I looked back, my gaze would be screaming “traitor.” A movement from Ciro forces me to focus on him again. Despite the youthful look of his smile, his eyes–that unbelievable pink hue–seem to hold wisdom.

“I’m glad to see you’re recovered.”

I let out a sound through my teeth that’s close to a snort.

“I see there’s no one here who doesn’t know what happened to me,” I mutter

It annoys me, makes me feel vulnerable and exposed that everyone seems to know–or at least assume–what happened. I just hope the truth about my curse hasn’t reached anyone’s ears. And for some reason, I don’t think Cassian would want that revealed either.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He gives me a genuine smile. “I just wanted to express that I hope everything is alright.”

“It is,” I say with much more conviction than I actually feel.

“And him? Is he treating you well?”

“Why the interest?” I shoot back. “Last I checked, you were a vampire and I was a human–why should you care how I’m treated?”

“Oh Elara… you have such a bad image of us,” he says, amused. “I hope Cassian isn’t helping reinforce that bad image, though I don’t have high hopes.” His hand, with no barrier between us, grabs mine and holds it in a gentlemanly way. “You’ve been to our parties. You’ve seen with your own eyes the humans who seek our attention–why would they, if we were so cruel?”

“Clearly, they’ve been deceived by your tricks.”

“Our tricks are pleasure and eternal life. I don’t think there are better things than that,” His eyes lock onto mine with intensity. “And if you let go of that hatred you have for us, you might begin to see things from another perspective,”

“I’m not going to see things from another perspective when you’ve stolen my future, my choices, my possibilities. How do you expect me to look at you differently when I was bought like cattle?” The words come coated in raw pain. “And your beauty won’t convince me otherwise.”

He stares at me for a few minutes and then bursts into laughter.

“I see Cassian told you about my gift”

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8:42 PM

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Chapter 62

He composes himself and I watch him smooth his vest from some invisible wrinkle.

“He did,” I confirm.

He steps forward and his next move catches me off guard. He places his hand on my check and caresses it with his thumb–soft as velvet. Air gets stuck in my lungs and I don’t dare to move.

“Elara, if my gift had any effect on you, you’d be begging at my feet right now.” Again, his thumb strokes my cheekbone. “I’m sure Cassian feels the same about you. You resist his powers just as you resist mine. That makes you fascinating.”

“I couldn’t care less how you people find me.”

He tilts his head slightly, narrowing his eyes.

“Something tells me that’s a lie.” He moistens his lower lip, letting me see for just a second the reminder of what he truly is. “You can come with me, Elara. I’ll show you that we’re not so bad. You’ve just had a bit of bad luck until now.”

“I have no interest in going from one jailer to another.”

“What if I promise things will be different? Come to my villa one day, you’ll see with your own eyes how the people under

“I don’t believe in promises.”

“You’ll believe in mine,” he promises. “And please, lose that frown–you’re gorgeous when you smile.”

“Someone should’ve taught you when to give up.”

I cross my arms over my chest and raise an eyebrow, defiant.

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